The objective of the collaboration is to examine how Sirtex's SIR-Spheres microspheres and Guerbet's Lipiodol may be combined or sequenced optimally, and further developed, to address the significant unmet clinical need in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, metastatic colorectal cancer, metastatic neuroendocrine tumours, and a range of other primary and secondary liver cancers.

Mr. Gilman Wong, Chief Executive Officer, Sirtex said that, "Sirtex's and Guerbet's shared vision is that one day, rather than being a terminal disease that patients unfortunately die from, liver cancer may be considered a chronic disease that patients can successfully live with. During my time at Sirtex I have been fortunate to meet a number of patients who have survived their liver cancer for many years following treatment with SIR-Spheres microspheres. We hope through this clinical studies collaboration to make further gains for the benefit of the patients afflicted by liver cancer. Should the initial collaboration prove fruitful, future collaborations in R&D and marketing between our respective companies may be considered".

Sirtex's SIR-Spheres microspheres are used in selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT), also known as radioembolisation, for the treatment of patients with inoperable liver tumours. SIR-Spheres microspheres have been shown in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to increase survival in patients with inoperable liver metastases from primary colorectal cancer. SIR-Spheres microspheres are currently being evaluated in six international, multi-centre RCTs in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which cumulatively will enrol in excess of 2,100 patients. The first of these RCTs, the SIRFLOX study, completed patient enrolment in April 2013 and is expected to report its results in early 2015.

Guerbet's Lipiodol Ultra Fluid is used in conventional trans-arterial chemo-embolisation (cTACE) procedures for the treatment of patients with inoperable liver tumours.

Dr Yves L'Epine, Chief Executive Officer, Guerbet, said "We are excited about the potential of combining or sequencing our products to improve the efficacy of Interventional Radiology procedures in patients with unresectable hepatic tumours. Indeed, while Lipiodol and SIR-Spheres individually are well proven and widely used therapies in their own right, they have never been formally evaluated together or sequentially. A Master Clinical Research Collaboration Agreement to be executed between our companies will provide the framework from which to launch a number of clinical projects investigating innovative ways to employ Lipiodol and SIR-Spheres in patients with inoperable liver tumours".